bennerkla's 5.5 AGA Nano Reef Diary (Lots of PICS!!!)

[bennerkla]

Okay, thanks for the input. What heater would you recommend? probably 25-50 Watts.

Should I have 1 fan blowing air out of the canopy, or 1 blowing in air? Or 1 blowing in air with a hole on the other side, or 2 fans that have 1 blowing in and 1 blowing out?

I'm on a very tight budget, I'm sure 2 fans would be best but is 1 with a hole enough?

[scbauer]

I would think one fan would be okay. Instead of the fan blowing air in and the air going out the hole, I would have the fan sucking the air out of the canopy and the hold to simply let the air flow unrestricted across the bulb.

Good luck with the tank... Looking good so far.

-Scott

[bennerkla]

How big? Where should I get the fan?
Thanks

[Gujustud]

Keep in mind, if its a tight canopy, and only one fan pulling air OUT, it will be pulling salty air out which will corrod the fan over time.

[bennerkla]

So would you recommend 2? Or 1 blowing in?

[jcm1229]

I've built canopies for 10g, 12g and 5.5g tanks. Never used fans, but the canopies had open backs, and I only kept the glass top on the front half of the tank to avoid saltwater splash when I used my magnet cleaner on the front glass. My evaporation was greater, but use of an auto topoff takes care of this. I've only experienced temperature changes of a degree or two using this method.

[bennerkla]

Thanks jcm.

I GOT MY LIVE ROCK TODAY!!!!!

Here are some pics, I"ll post more later but I'm off to a Modest Mouse concert now, I"ll post more tomorrow. Enjoy!





Looks like awesome fiji premium to me, I'll take pics tomrorrw once it clears up.

[bennerkla]

Update 6-9-05

Here are some more live rock pictures. I'd like some comments on my aquascaping; it is very hard to work with rock in such a small tank. The water will start to clear up after I add carbon after the cycle. I also got my refugium light in, it is absolutally PERFECT I'm very happy.





Right side...


Left Side...


Right rock...


Left rock, my main rock...


Here is my refugium light, bought from eBay.






My free snails came in today, there are a couple dead but most seem to be okay. Good deal for 5 bucks shipping.

Any comments?

Thanks guys, cya tomrorow.

Ben

[Gujustud]

Lookin good. Can you post a link who you got the fuge light from?

[bennerkla]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...e=STRK:MEWN:IT

Check that seller out, he constantly has those lights for sale.

[Sugar Magnolia]

Aquascaping suggestion. Take that larger rock on the left and move it over to the right side. I see you have the other rock snug agains the glass, so do the same with that larger rock. Use the rock you currently have on the bottom right over on the bottom left. You should be able use that rock thats on the upper right to create a cave by trying different positions with it until it can be wedged into a decent position over on the upper left. It looks like it's got a great shape, so it should fit into position pretty easily. Just a thought.

[impur]

Aquascaping suggestion #2. Take a couple of those rocks out, use a hammer and screwdriver and break em in half. Will be much easier to aquascape with smaller rocks.

[bennerkla]

Thanks guys. I'll try magnolias method and if I don't like it, I'll try to break them.

I'll post pics of this tonight.

Cya.

[bennerkla]

Hey guys. I went over to Doug's house today, a local CORA member, and made my auto top off system and my fan for my canopy. I'm building my canopy tomorrow at 2:00 PM EST and hopefully it'll be done this weekend. I need to find an acrylic elbow so I can mount my float switch. Anyway, enjoy the pictures, hopefully they can help you out.

[TC3modena]

its comin out pretty good

[bennerkla]

I made my canopy today! I'm very excited, my uncle really helped me out. I posted in the DIY forum, here is the link and some preview pictures. I'm so pumped that I have something better than those crappy mounting legs and I now have a place to mount my moonlights! My fan keeps it at a cool 78 degrees. Check it out!!

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=610210

[clown fanatic]

wow that looks really nice. good job

[bennerkla]

Thanks!

[clown fanatic]

no problem! hey hurry up and update this thing more! i need something to look at.

one thing that pops into my mind about the new hood is watchout with the endcaps on those lights they may not be water proof. i saw someones tank awhile back that burned down but was finally put out once the aquarium melted. scary looking stuff. my guess is try to put some plexi glass in front of the lights or something idk.sorry if it sounds like im trying to rain on your parade but i just thought id warn you because you never know.

[bennerkla]

clown fanactic- are the end caps the 4 pin connectors? I added a 1/8" piece of glass to the canopy, so I think that'll take care of the problem as long as it's okay to maybe get a little bit of moisture. Look closely and you can see the glass in these pictures. There will not be any H20 directly in contact with the top of the canopy anymore. I also added a dap of silicone to all the screws.


My base will be done soon, just need to recut it.

Keep giving me comments!!!! Thanks, cya.

[bennerkla]

oh BTW I ordered a Tronic heater today thanks to a previous members advice about how bad these heaters are. It'll be put into my HOB refugium once I get the chaeto.

[clown fanatic]

o ok i see it. nice work. idk if you already went over this but do you have any plans for a fish? if i had a tank that small i think a clowngoby would be pretty cool for it.

[bennerkla]

I think I'm sticking to just corals and inverts so I can keep the water perams under control. IDK know, I might consider a fish if I think the tank needs more movement.

[Krypticol]

Well, i think you've convinced me, I think I'll be picking up one of those little AGA tanks this weekend...nice work.

[bennerkla]

Very cool, be sure to keep us updated! Post pics, and if you need any help just ask.